How Does Gene Injecting Work?

  • Thread starter sheldon
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In summary: This happened with the SARS virus and the MERS virus. Anyway, some virus are there because they are old and no one knows how they got there. Although it is interesting to know that these viruses are still around.
  • #1
sheldon
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I saw on the discovery channel that genetisists have injected a mouse with a virus that had a chunk of DNA on it. The DNA was for muscle growth and this mouse was huge and stayed that way. What the heck. That freaked me out. How does this trojen horse style gene injecting thing work? Even if one cell gets infected and changed geneticaly how does the rest of that particuler muscle get changed?
 
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  • #2
It is easy, the scientist used a natural process. Some virus can integrate their genome into their host genome (There is trace in most genome sequence to this day). Therefore the gene can be express inside the cell and alter the function of the cell. A possible side effect is that the DNA insert migth be in a gene and can cause some problem.

To get as many cell as you want you use either a large dose of virus (not to large because the immune system could react badly) or you infect some stem cell and reject them or do some cloning with the cell. The scientific probably put a regulator specific for muscle in order for the gene to be express only in muscle.

Viruse have been tested for gene therapy for a while now.
 
  • #3
would the mouses offspring carry the genetic changes made?
 
  • #4
I guess they would pass the canghes to the offspring.
I read once that in the human genome was found some old viral DNA... (any comments are welcome on this)
 
  • #5
Originally posted by sheldon
would the mouses offspring carry the genetic changes made?

I depends when the mouses were transformed and which cell are transformed. If the cell are transformed during their life time, the offspring will not likely carry the modification except if some male gonads cells are transform and not all sperm cell will carry the transformation. For female, most of eggs are produce prior to adulthood. If the mouse are transform prior to cloning, the transformation will carry on by the offsprings (1/4 if the other mate is not transform, 1/2 if both are transgenic). Only One of the chromatids (two chromatids=1 chromosome) will be transform. Therefore one in two sperm/egg cell will have the transformation.

Guybrush Threepwood
I read once that in the human genome was found some old viral DNA... (any comments are welcome on this)

You are rigth and old virus are also found in other living organism too. This is due because some virus that integrate their genome are not really good at it, they make mistake when they remove their genome. Sometime some virus have mutation that cause the enzyme that extract the genome to be off or not to work. So the genome cannot be
cut out anymore.
 

1. How does gene injecting work to alter DNA?

Gene injecting is a technique used to insert foreign genetic material into an organism's DNA. This is typically done using a specialized tool called a vector, which carries the desired gene into the host organism's cells. Once inside the cells, the new gene integrates into the host's DNA and can be expressed, altering the organism's genetic makeup.

2. What are the potential benefits of gene injecting?

Gene injecting has a wide range of potential applications, including creating genetically modified organisms for agricultural or medical purposes, studying gene function and disease mechanisms, and even potentially treating genetic disorders in humans.

3. How is gene injecting different from traditional breeding methods?

Traditional breeding methods involve crossing and selecting for desired traits within an organism's existing genetic makeup. Gene injecting, on the other hand, allows for the direct insertion of specific genes into an organism's DNA, bypassing the need for multiple generations of breeding and potentially introducing new traits that may not exist within the organism's natural gene pool.

4. Are there any ethical concerns surrounding gene injecting?

As with any technology, there are ethical considerations to be addressed when using gene injecting. Some concerns include the potential for unintended consequences and unintended effects on ecosystems, as well as the ethical implications of altering the genetic makeup of organisms for human purposes.

5. What are the current limitations of gene injecting technology?

While gene injecting has shown promising results in various applications, there are still limitations and challenges to be addressed. These include the potential for off-target effects, difficulty in controlling where the new gene integrates into the host's DNA, and the potential for gene silencing or rejection by the host organism's immune system.

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